To everyone who keeps saying:
“But if Azriel marries/bonds Elain, it won’t work. She isn’t even an Illyrian! How will she have kids?”
I’m truly all laughs and smiles in this fandom. Truly. You wanna say Elucien or Elriel? Cool, I see your vision! You wanna say Gwynriel? Whatever floats your boat, they would be cute together. You hate Elain? You know what, despite the facts, you may have your reasons. You do you. You wanna bring Bryce in and say Azriel ends up with her? I’m chuckling and cheering you on. Go as far as Azris? Aight, we have an imagination. Good for you.
But… this?
“How will she have kids” argument?
I’m gonna pull my grandma voice out and gently educate you of the fact that it is now that you’ve simply gone too far.
Please allow me to say this once, and only once—
A woman’s worth is NOT based on her womb. She is not just a uterus deemed worthy of reproduction and nothing more. There are other organs on her body, you know. If you look closely you may find a heartbeat. And a brain. And a smile. And ideas. And thoughts. And opinions of her own.
The mating bonds are literally just this: a political scheme to matchmake candidates that may create the strongest heirs. Reproduce. And nothing more. We all romanticize them. They romanticize them too ffs. But know that those mating pairs worked because they had love AND respect for each other, above all else, and not “can she have kids or not?”. Mates are not the endgame. True love is. Do not fall down this rabbit hole.
Whoever loves her, will love her first, everything else secondary to her will and grace. If they want kids, if she wants kids, they can adopt. And for gods sake, someone teach these Illyrian’s how to do a c-section.
Just for the sake of the argument, let me remind you, for the very last time (and I do not find any joy in bringing this up either) that Gwyn isn’t an Illyrian either.
A woman’s autonomy is not a reproduction fest.
I know there are a lot of things this fandom argues on, a lot of passionate “popular opinions”. The need to have a strong opinion is innate. I have strong opinions too, and I may hold up an intellectual conversation with someone who wants to share their thoughts, their ships with me. And I will listen with open ears. But this conversation is simply not up for debate.
Because—
It is not about you, it is about Elain and what she would want for herself.
Hell. Even Gwyn has the right to choose for herself. But I see none of you making this argument for her?
So, I will repeat myself:
These womens’ autonomies are not a reproduction fest.
If either of them decide they do not want kids, then you’re gonna have to live with that, just like Azriel will. And I know he will.
You wanna argue about who Azriel ends up with? Fine. But do not drag their autonomies to prove your point. It has nothing to do with who Azriel ends up with. And it should not make or break an argument.
Stop projecting your own needs and choices and stolen opinions on them, just because you want to see Azriel have kids. Do I want Az to have kids? Yes. But will I crash-out or jump ships or use it to prove my point if they don’t/can’t? No. Because it is not about Azriel at all.
And if you are asking this question, it’s no longer a conversation where we say “they’re just fictional characters, let it go”. Nope. This might be the only conversation in this fandom that I will not tolerate, one conversation where I will come in strong with the facts to gently educate.
This is a safe space. There are plenty of fans who just like what they like, and that is amazing! I do not believe in supremacy and if you like a ship, go for it. But we do not tolerate fans who keep pushing this point in their arguments.
Please. Just for a second. Stop and think for yourself. It is my humble request.
I rest my case.
